Let me update you on the Cherry HiIl Basketball team efforts for Breast Cancer. I know that they raised at least $500 to donate to Cancer Cure of New Jersey- I am so pleased to have found such a patient oriented program here in the Great State of New Jersey. I am so proud of the team for doing such a good job with their "Balling for a Cure" campaign. Thank you Zoe and Linda for thinking of me and inviting me to support your cause.
Went looking for my Mother's medical records that I had gotten from University of PA when I first returned to New Jersey back in the 1996. When I found the papers today, I did some deeper review of my own mother's Cancer diagnosis. - It seems she never had a chance back in 1968. A non-cancer breast condition was not discovered until the August before she died; which was the same condition as mine in my right breast. Mine was further back and bigger (multiple) Hers was found with a discharge from her right nipple and more local. She had a lumpectomy too. I had a lumpectomy on each of my breast- one for Cancer on my Left and one for the papilloma on my Right. ( I am matchy matchy) Her doctors were kind of on a wild goose chase with her. Looking into orthopedic pain, Gall bladder issues before discovering her CANCERS! She definitely had an aggressive form of cancer; whether it started in one of her GI organs and then metastasized to her lung and breast, the doctors were not certain. Her whole cavity was filled with tumors by the time she finally was diagnosed a little more than a month before her death. She actually was given a small dose of chemotherapy too which resulted in neutropenia ( low white cell count) and then discontinued. Her physicians were also non-chalant about her smoking. As if it was not too relevant.
I miss and love you Mom. Bernice Alterman; January 9, 1927 to February 23, 1969
Nancy's Cancer in her left breast is: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), sometimes called infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk-carrying ducts and spreads beyond it). According to the American Cancer Society, more than 180,000 women in the United States find out they have invasive breast cancer each year. About 10% of all invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinomas. (About 80% are invasive ductal carcinomas.)
Invasive means that the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Lobular means that the cancer began in the milk-producing lobules, which empty out into the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. Carcinomarefers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues that cover internal organs — such as breast tissue. All together, “invasive lobular carcinoma” refers to cancer that has broken through the wall of the lobule and begun to invade the tissues of the breast. Over time, invasive lobular carcinoma can spread to the lymph nodes and possibly to other areas of the body.
Although invasive lobular carcinoma can affect women at any age, it is more common as women grow older. According to the American Cancer Society, about two-thirds of women are 55 or older when they are diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer. ILC tends to occur later in life than invasive ductal carcinoma — the early 60s as opposed to the mid- to late 50s.
Some research has suggested that the use of hormone replacement therapy during and after menopause can increase the risk of ILC.
Benign non Cancer breast condition that was in my right breast which was present for my own mother:
Intraductal papillomas are benign (non-cancer) tumors that grow within the breast ducts. They are wart-like growths of gland tissue along with fibrous tissue and blood vessels (called fibrovascular tissue).
Solitary papillomas or solitary intraductal papillomas are single tumors that often grow in the large milk ducts near the nipple. They are a common cause of clear or bloody nipple discharge, especially when it comes from only one breast. They may be felt as a small lump behind or next to the nipple. They do not raise breast cancer risk unless there are other changes, such as atypical hyperplasia (see the “Hyperplasia” section).
Papillomas may also be found in small ducts in areas of the breast farther from the nipple. In this case there are often several growths (multiple papillomas). These tumors are less likely to cause nipple discharge.
Papillomatosis is a type of hyperplasia in which there are very small areas of cell growth within the ducts, but they are not as distinct as papillomas are. Diagnosis Ductograms are sometimes helpful in finding papillomas. If the papilloma is large enough to be felt, a biopsy can be done (where tissue is removed to look at under the microscope). Treatment The usual treatment is to remove the papilloma and the part of the duct it’s found in. Link to cancer risk Having multiple papillomas is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, but having a single papilloma is not. Papillomatosis is also linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
Providing all women with cancer support and information to better cope
- Body Image
- Communicating With Your Health Care Team
- Coping With Cancer
- Exercise
- Fertility
- Financial Resources
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- Managing Side Effects
- Mind/Body Techniques
- Nutrition
- Relationships and Intimacy
- Talking With Your Children About Cancer
- Workplace Issues
Face-to-Face Support Groups in New Jersey
For Patients
- Breast Cancer Support GroupThis face-to-face support group is for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer (in active treatment or post-treatment). Groups take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., at the University Medical Center at Princeton’s Breast Health Center, located at 300B Princeton Hightstown Road, East Windsor, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.Please contact Lois Glasser at 1-201-301-6807 for more information or to register.
- Empowering Our Health Through ConversationSharing concerns about health, both physical and emotional, can lead to healing. This Spanish-speaking group will empower members to share their concerns with others in a supportive safe environment.This will be an eight-week patient support group that will take place on Thursday mornings.To register, or for more information Sonia Pacheco, LSW at 201-301-6815 orspacheco@cancercare.org.
- General Patient Support GroupThis face-to-face support group is for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. The support group takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Monroe Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.Please contact Lois Glasser at 201-301-6807 for more information or to register.
- Meditative MandalasHave you heard that recent studies indicate that coloring mandalas or intricate patterns can induce a beneficial meditative state, thus reducing anxiety? Join us as we color beautiful mandalas over the course of four weeks with paints, pencils and markers. Your finished projects can be laminated, decoupaged, made into greeting cards or placemats, framed, hung as a reminder to relax—use your imagination!This is a quieter support group for anyone treated for cancer within the past two years. Calming music will be played during the group, encouraging a peaceful environment that promotes quiet conversation and self reflection. Each week we will discuss one mindfulness technique that may be applied in your life.The group will take place from 1:00-2:30 in Ridgewood, NJ and the exact location will be given at time of registration.For more information, or to register, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.
- Prostate Cancer Patient and Family Support GroupThis face-to-face support group is for prostate cancer patients and their family members. This group takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the The University Medical Center at Plainsboro, located on Rt. 1 between Scudders Mill Road and Plainsboro R. Pre-registration is required for this group.Please contact Lois Glasser at 201-301-6807 for more information or to register.
Bereavement/Grief
- Spouse/Partner Bereavement Support GroupThis 8-week face-to-face support group is for people who have lost a partner or spouse to cancer. The group will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at CancerCare’s New Jersey Office, 141 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.
- Spouse/Partner Bereavement Support Group for Those With Children High School Age or YoungerCome and share your story of love, loss, single parenting and hope with others experiencing a similar journey.CancerCare will be facilitating an eight-week Bereavement Support Group for those raising children who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer. This support group takes place on Tuesday evenings.To register, or for more information, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.
Community Programs in New Jersey
- We’re Talking About It: Helping Children Cope When a Parent or Caregiver Has CancerTuesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.CancerCare is offering a free 2-hour workshop for parents or caregivers with cancer, their partners and their children ages 5-12. The workshop, led by CancerCare social workers, will help families learn to cope and communicate with each other more effectively. We will include discussion of your children’s needs for accurate information and emotional support as your family copes with cancer and its treatment.Join us for pizza, fun activities for the kids and an evening of sharing and support!Registration is required. Please contact Ariana Parmese at 800-813-4673, ext. 6808 oraparmese@cancercare.org.
- Healing Hearts Bereavement CampFriday, June 10, 6:00 p.m. – Sunday, June 12, 3:00 p.m.Our free Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp allows families who have experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer to come together for a weekend retreat. Each year, families spend three days at a working dude ranch in the beautiful Poconos. Fun activities like swimming, horseback riding, and fishing are combined with therapeutic grief activities led by CancerCareprofessional oncology social workers.“The camp is a place where the families can come together and not feel different,” explains CancerCare’s Claire Grainger, LCSW. “The kids meet others who have experienced a similar loss and they don’t have to explain anything to one another…There are a lot of tears, but there is also so much laughter. They’ve all found new friends – people that understand.”Listen to “Fly, Butterfly, Fly” – a song written by the campers:Please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW, at 800-813-4673, ext. 6811 orcgrainger@cancercare.org. You may also contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809 or knugent@cancercare.org.
Patient/Family Resource Room
Located at our New Jersey office, patients and family members are invited to visit the resource room. Please call 201-444-6630 for more information.
Free Wigs
Free wigs are available at our New Jersey office. Please call 201-444-6630 for more information.
Magnolia Meals at Home
This is a meal delivery program that aims to help patients by providing nourishing meals to households affected by breast cancer and thyroid cancer. The program is currently being piloted in and around Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Andover, MA (as well as specific locations in New York, New Hampshire and Boston). Eligible participants will receive up to two months of home meal deliveries, each of which will include ten meals that are designed to help meet the nutritional needs of people living with breast cancer and thyroid cancer, and up to ten additional meals for their family members, if requested by the participant.
For more information please visit magnoliamealsathome.com or contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809
